Since 2009, USDA has led 246 U.S. agribusinesses and 26 State Departments of Agriculture on agricultural trade missions. These trade missions have fostered positive partnerships with international markets and have linked overseas consumers to American products. They open doors and deliver results for U.S. exporters, giving them the opportunity to gather market intelligence, create relationships with potential customers and interact with government officials to start or expand their sales in key markets overseas.

This week, leaders from five state departments of agriculture and eight U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse on a trade mission to Ukraine and Romania to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products.

You can also hear from Quality Ethnic Foods, a Baltimore-based small business that is successfully selling its frozen foods, sauces and other products overseas. With support from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, CEO Afraz Ahmed’s company has been able to participate in trade shows and connect with foreign buyers it wouldn’t be able to reach on its own.

Join us throughout the month of June as we continue to explore how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met. Follow along on usda.gov, on the USDA blog and by using #USDAResults, or catch up on Chapter VI on our Medium site.

In June, we’ll look at how American agricultural exports have served as a bright spot for the U.S. economy since 2009 while helping to ensure our ambitious goals of ending poverty and hunger are met.